Member Reviews
5 stars
Carlos is such a great storyteller and this book showcases just that. I found myself saying so true over and over. I laughed out loud so many times because from following him on social media I could just see him in these situations! This book truly was eye opening and was wonderful to read. Thank you Carlos for taking us along with you on this journey.
Thank you to Nelson publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Carlos Whittaker chronicles his 7 weeks of going completely screen free—including two weeks in a monastery and two weeks with an amish family—and the lessons he learned during that time.
Carlos' description of the "detox" his brain experienced at the beginning of this experiment was fascinating, as were the results of the brain scans he underwent before and after the 7 weeks. I also really enjoyed learning alongside Carlos about the unique lifestyles of the monk and amish communities, and how those challenged the norms that we're so accustomed to.
Carlos' tone is very conversational, which works much better in the audiobook format than the print version. I initially began reading the print ARC version and felt like his voice didn't come across as clearly in print, so switched to audio halfway through. The book could have maybe benefited from a little more editing to make it more readable, while maintaining his unique voice.
I appreciated that there were practical steps offered at the end of many chapters. I almost wish there were more examples of how Carlos now applies what he learned in his everyday life, but I appreciate that he lists some, at least.
I was so delighted to be approved for an advance reader copy of this book! I've been following Carlos on Instagram for awhile and love his way with words but also his genuine, authenticity for people so the whole premise of this book about connecting with people I knew would be up my alley! It did not disappoint! Carlos spends two weeks with monks at a monastery without his phone, followed by two weeks on an Amish farm, followed by several weeks at home without his device as a social experiment on himself.
I really enjoyed the conversational, authentic tone of this book. Often books like this feel very preachy, but this felt like sitting down with a great storyteller friend sharing about his experiences. I do wish there had been more content around his time at home and what his balance/life has been like since the experiment. But even without an in-depth dive into that time, it was an excellent, thought-provoking read that I'd highly recommend!
I can be a harsh reviewer on non fiction books. Typically they are too dry and too long.
I liked this book as it was about him trying something out, rather than just thinking about it. Additionally he is witty and funny
My one concern is about the Dr. he saw for brain imaging. It seems reviews for this doctor or mixed and he charges high fees so his services are not accessible it seems. So this part of the book, while I understand its purpose, it feels a bit like a sponsorship or something.
In a world that is wrapped around cell phones and social media there are times we all should take a break from it. With all the bad news in the world why always have it in your face with every notification? The author did a social experiment by living among monks for a few weeks followed by living with the Amish community. Having grown up about half an hour from Arthur, Illinois, which has a large volume of Amish families, I have always wondered what the Amish are like. The reader goes along with the author on his journey. This is a very relatable and at times funny read, Tips on ways to improve being addicted to your phone are also included. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for the advance copy for review!
Loved this book!! Carlos Whittaker, the author, gives us all a lot to think about as it relates to our smart phones, screens and life in general. I was a little hesitant to pick up this book as I feared it would hit a little too close to home in this screen filled life- but it was very enjoyable to read AND also gave me a lot of really important things to think about.
To be clear, Carlos does not villainize phones or screens. He simply invites us to better understand the impacts screens can have on our lives and relationships and to choose to be more intentional about how we use them. What I’ve learned from this book will stick with me for a long time. I’ve already made some changes in order to bring back more wonder and focus and presence into my life and relationships- with other people and with God. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this important book.
If you've ever wondered whether your phone is consuming too much of your time and energy, you're not alone. Author and online influencer Carlos Whittaker faced the same concern when he discovered he was spending over seven hours a day on his phone. Curious about the impact this behavior was having on his brain, he decided to disconnect for a while. In Reconnected, Whittaker shares his journey through a couple of weeks without his phone—first at a monastery, then on an Amish farm, and finally with screen-free time at home. Although he admits that his phone usage has returned to nearly pre-experiment levels, his perspective on technology and how he interacts with the world has been profoundly altered. This conversational-style book is easy to read and poses valuable questions that many of us would benefit from considering.
What a timely, meaningful book! Carlos does an excellent job of addressing the major issues with the Digital Age without just regurgitating the data and points that many others are writing. Instead, he tells funny, personal, engaging stories that help flesh out what many are saying about the dangers of technology and the best ways to overcome these problems.
As a pastor, I think this is the perfect book to hand to members of my congregation as we talk about Digital Discipleship.
Fantastic read. Looking forward to the documentary. See my Goodreads review (linked below) for my complete thoughts.
This will be a home-run of a book among the InstaFamilia and those who are familiar with Carlos, but the extremely casual writing style* may be quite the challenge for those who come to this book without any prior knowledge of who he is.
The subtitle and general premise doesn't line up for me, because it's about "7 WEEKS"... but the book covers 3-3.5 weeks, with a very small nod to "Oh yes, I spent 3 more weeks at home." Over and over and over, Carlos says that this isn't about NOT having screens or phones at all, but really having better boundaries with them in our own regular lives with our own people. So why don't we read about that? Why is the book 95% in other places and with other people? I would have been super interested in reading about all 7 weeks, particularly the part at home which readers will be most able to implement in their own lives.
*Example: "Who wants this sort of stuff to be occupying our thoughts when we can simply silence them by consuming thoughts of others online? Well, can I answer my own question? Um, actually, I can because I'm writing the book." (page 66) // "LOL" on page 10, page 98 // Several things shared throughout that made sense because I've followed online for many years, but wouldn't make sense otherwise... there's the assumption that the reader knows him, and that may prove very confusing for someone who just stumbles on the book! I have a ton of respect for Carlos and his family... have followed and engaged online for many years now... have read his other books... this one will do very well because he has the loyal support behind him and the InstaFamilia will feel like it's their friend talking to them, but it very much needed a better structure, stronger editing, and greater depth.
Carlos Whittaker’s "Reconnected" is a timely and thought-provoking exploration of our relationship with technology in an increasingly digital world. For anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the constant barrage of notifications, pings, and the endless scroll, this book offers not just an escape, but a roadmap to rediscovering what it truly means to be human.
Whittaker, a well-known podcaster and author, candidly shares his personal journey of digital detox, where he took extreme measures to unplug from the virtual world that had ensnared him. Overwhelmed and feeling disconnected from his faith, community, and even himself, Whittaker embarked on a nearly two-month screen-free experiment, immersing himself in environments as diverse as a monastery, an Amish farm, and his own home.
What makes "Reconnected" particularly compelling is Whittaker's honesty about the challenges he faced during this digital fast. He doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulty of detaching from the constant connectivity that many of us have come to rely on. Yet, it’s through these challenges that Whittaker uncovers profound insights that are both relatable and inspiring.
The book is filled with practical advice on how to reclaim your life from the clutches of technology. Whittaker delves into the impact that constant screen time has on our brains, our relationships, and our emotional well-being, offering strategies to counteract these effects. His reflections on the joy of being bored, the value of getting lost, and the importance of not needing to Google every question serve as gentle reminders that life’s richness often lies in the simplicity we’ve lost in our pursuit of digital convenience.
Whittaker also emphasizes the importance of retraining ourselves to notice the world around us before reaching for our phones. He offers practical tips for prioritizing in-person relationships, even in a world where screens are often a necessary part of work and school. Perhaps most striking is his insight on how reducing our dependence on technology can amplify our connection to God, highlighting how the noise of the digital world often drowns out the still, small voice that guides us spiritually.
Reconnected is more than just a guide to digital detox; it’s an invitation to reset your life in a way that aligns with your values and fosters genuine connection with the world around you. Whittaker’s engaging writing style, blending wisdom from the past with modern-day challenges, makes this book both accessible and deeply impactful.
For anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or overstimulated by the demands of technology, Reconnected is a must-read. It’s a powerful reminder that we were made for more than the endless scroll and that by taking back control from our devices, we can start truly living again.
I've been a long-time Instagram follower of Carlos Whitaker, so I was excited to read his newest book -- especially when I saw the topic he was going to be tackling! In "Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human", Whitaker spends weeks with monks in the mountains of California and then weeks with Amish farmers in Ohio to determine what life would be like without his phone. While his time in California was almost boring in its simplicity and solitude, his time in Ohio was filled with constant farm chores and backbreaking physical labor. I was really struck by the following quotes:
"How much is the device you keep in your pocket . . . making God smaller than you want Him to be? . . . Are your screens adding to the greatness of God in your life? Or are they reducing God to a sound bite?"
"Hesitation is a consequence of believing we are in control. When it comes to God, since we have so many answers at our fingertips in Google, we crave more tangible assurance of God and his ways. And when the proof isn't evident and doesn't show up right away, what do we do? We start grasping at control to give us a false sense of safety . . . Waiting for blessed assurance before we take one step toward where we were supposed to be going in faith a long time ago."
I really enjoyed this book and think it would be a good read for anyone! Apparently, he has a documentary coming out that's based on this book and I can't wait to see it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I love this book...so far. I stopped reading because I want to buy the physical book and lie back on the couch in the sun to enjoy it fully without using a screen.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against screens, but this is one I want to leave lying around to pick up when I am ready to savour more of the words.
It grabbed me from the first page, and I already felt so much emotion that I could see that Carlos was on a profound journey. It takes great faith to step out and step back. This book will transform lives and engage those who live with faith and those who don't. I believe it will challenge us because it is already challenging me only a few chapters in.
I highly recommend this book and can't wait to buy myself a copy.
I was familiar with the author via the Annie F Downs podcast network, That Sounds Fun, but I hadn’t actually listened to his podcast or followed him on social media myself, so I went in to this book sort of blind but thinking, this guy is probably pretty cool.
I loved the premise - figuring out what all our excessive screen time is doing to us via a sort of extreme social experiment on himself. Carlos lives with monks and the Amish, phone free, then spends time with his family at the end of it without his phone too, and journals his way throughout.
The tone is really conversational and has a lot of heart and humor. I found this book quite gripping and was keen to know what was happening next. I have read a few Christian books about unplugging and slowing down but I loved that Carlos took himself out of his own life at such great personal sacrifice in order to write this one.
It definitely spurred me to make some changes in my screen time and family life and I appreciate having the motivation, not from a place of pressure or guilt or hand-wringing (unlike some other well known secular books about screens out there) but from someone who just wanted to improve their own life and recognized they had a problem.
All in all, a fascinating read. I’ll definitely be recommending it.
This is a great book! The conversational writing made me feel like I was with the author; I was fully immersed! This was an ARC and I was caught off guard by the heavy emphasis on religion. I was only vaguely familiar with the author and knew part of the book took place in a monastery, so I expected some religious aspects. There’s a huge focus on god and faith. Not a problem for me, just wasn’t expecting it from the synopsis.
The book is split into three sections. The monastery, the Amish and home. The monastery gets the bulk of the focus, and I wish it had been split more evenly with the Amish. I would have liked a bit more information at the end about Carlos’s transition back to real life as it felt quite brief.
Overall enjoyed the book and would recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
5 stars
Reconnected
Carlos Whittaker
I am typically not one for memoir type books, but this is perhaps the best one I have ever read. I loved everything about this book. I had not previously heard of Carlos Whittaker; however, the idea of someone going completely off grid was/is very appealing.
Whittaker removes himself from society by first spending time at a Monastery and an Amish farm. His insights and humor are appealing and fun to read. I am old enough to remember a time without cell phones and cable TV, and I often wish there was a way to go back to that time of true connection with others.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.
In Reconnected, Carlos Whittaker set out on a journey to rediscover God and himself. He realized that he was being consumed and controlled by technology. What inspired him to do so was a simple notification that stated his screen time was an average 7 hours and 23 mins a day. This is about 49 hours. He decided he wanted to do an experiment and to learn how a monk and the Amish live their lives. He explored how they connect to God and to others and what we can learn and apply to our lives.
He learned that monks pray a lot and he had a daily schedule to follow. They have meals in silence. He had to write and journal daily with a pen. He explained how he was scared a lot. This was when he realized that he would be spending a lot of time alone in his own thoughts. He shared how each monk had to discover their own gifts and where they fit into the community and their identity. He learned the importance of walking more and how it can even bring health benefits. He encouraged readers to walk without technology and he relayed how alone we can feel without any distractions. He shared how we can sit and contemplate the majesty of God and enjoy His creation. We can learn to really read the Bible and grow closer to God.
He traveled with the Amish and stayed on a farm filled with acres of land. He at first saw how the Amish eats their meals. They take their sweet time and don’t get in any hurry. Dinner lasted four hours and breakfast 45 minutes. Americans on average eat their meals in under 12 minutes and we keep trying to get done even sooner. This causes stress on our bodies and weight gain. The Amish feel like a meal is meant to be intimate and we are supposed to share stories. They all come together to cook a meal or clean up. They have no technology at the table. They would make sure their tasks were completed by meal time and they would stick to the schedule. They would be busy doing farm chores during the day. They explained how their church would be twice a year in their barn. The church would rotate to each other barns.
I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to reconnect with God. They are tired of being bound by technology and they are being held back from real relationships and community. I liked how he looked at monks and Amish and how they live in their community. It was really interesting learning more about both cultures and how they live day to day and how that compares to us.
“I received this book free from Thomas Nelson for my honest review.”
I follow Carlos on Instagram every day. I remember when he went away from the internet and we all wondered if he was writing another book. Well, we were right. This book seems so simple (just put down your phone once in a while and enjoy the world), but not many of us actually do it. Reading about his time with the monks and the Amish family was so fun. I cannot imagine totally being cut off from technology for seven weeks, but I also think I would enjoy it a lot also.
This is such a good read for anyone who may need a little tech detox.
There is definitely a theme of “unplugging” that I’m noticing in the publishing industry lately — a necessary topic! Carlos writes in a personal, funny, energetic way that keeps the reader interested. In all of his books, he seeks to learn about himself in a specific area and invites readers in to the process. This book has personal stories and practical applications for disconnecting and reconnecting in our own lives.
This was my first book by Carlos and I truly enjoyed it. I loved his storytelling and humor. The insights and truth about disconnecting from phones/technology and reconnecting with life hit home. I love the practical applications, the vulnerability, and honesty. I also appreciated that his experiment was medically documented and showed results that he noticed and felt. I had already been making changes to reconnect in my life and this book makes me want to do more. Thank you "Amish Farmer Monk Carlos."
I've already been recommending this book to everyone and I'm looking forward to experiencing more books from Carlos Whittaker.